CHALLENGE TAMLA!

having M.S. is not the end!

[challengetamla]

So my nearest coffee shop has now become inaccessible. Like many coffee shops @coffeenumber1 has closed one of its entrances to ensure Lockdown Corona rules are followed. But they've closed the disabled entrance, meaning the only way in is via stairs. I was lucky, I rang their telephone number and they took my order and then came outside so that I could pay - I really appreciated it. I worry accessibility is being forgotten about during the pandemic. When I've had to go to my nearest @bootsuk access to the baby area was only via escalator and the lift was disabled. https://www.instagram.com/p/CLy82xvDabA/?igshid=1fgf60wfgy280

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Feeling a little frustrated today. Off work due to fatigue. I'm not tired. I don't need sleep but I have no energy mentally or physically. I'm bored but can't really do much as it saps my energy. #thisisMS #livingwithms #blackgirlwithms #fatigue #invisibledisability #grr #multiplesclerosis #msfatigue #ms #mssymptoms https://www.instagram.com/p/BnTGhiZl_Y6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10z2918vfdkeu

[challengetamla]

One week on from completing #biketheukforms How do I feel? Well, I didn't come home and collapse into a bout of fatigue! Thank-you #MS I'm having trouble sleeping because I'm not as active as I was whilst #cycling. BUT I can feel an underlying level of #fatigue, it normally hits me around 3pm/4pm. Sometimes, activities that require energy make me more tired than they should - fatigue. I made a concerted effort when I returned not to do too much. So, I have yet to celebrate with friends and family. #Work - At the moment I'm struggling to get back into things - I've only been in 2 days. I want to be outdoors and on my bike. (I don't think I would have been saying that on Day 14!). It feels like a completely different life where I haven't completed #JOGLE. I'm a bit sad because I can see the massive impact work has on my ability to be active in the evenings. #mssacrifices #Home - I enjoy having a comfy bed and a shower. But there are so many more choices to make, what to eat, what to wear, when to get up, what to do on a daily basis. I almost had a tantrum when I had to decide what to wear last Thursday. #livingwithms #multiplesclerosis #travelonbike #backtonormal #blackgirlwithms #backtowork #sleepproblems #msandwork #livingwithms #InvisibleDisability https://www.instagram.com/p/BmuusDAjShm/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=w64rmddjlesc

[challengetamla]

I'm sincerely missing living out of a box. There are now too many choices. #biketheukforms #livingoutofasuitcase #box #easylife #simplelife #jogle https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmkk6LBHK7w/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1giisbcfi6qrp

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Look what I got in the post! Almost made me cry. #ProudAunty #Congrats #biketheukforms #jogle #sentwithlove https://www.instagram.com/p/BmkkKl7HxGN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1pd2wby1cghrr

[challengetamla]

I forgot to say I am the FIRST rider to START and COMPLETE Bike the UK for MS If you've enjoyed following my #biketheukforms journey, please consider SPONSORING ME: http://www.biketheukforms.org/cyclists/detail.asp?cid=1284 My ultimate aim is always to raise awareness of MS, so often, I forget about the fundraising part. The money raised will be donated to the local #mssocietygroups that we met along the way so that they can provide the additional services people with MS (MSers) in their area need. Thanks in advance. xx Tamla #fundraising #mstherapies #mshelp #mssociety #donations #sponsorme #blackgirlwithms #thisisms #exerciseclasses #LivingwithMS #mystory #biketheukforms #msawareness #jogle #lastorders (at Bristol, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmfkrPRFxcc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3zdqnxkwp4zq

[challengetamla]

Bike the UK for MS Who actually uses the maps? I learnt that I was the only person actually using the maps for directions. Everyone else had #GPS on their #bikecomputer , so were only using the maps to check elevation. I ended up doing over 1,050 miles (instead of the 1,020) I got lost many times, prolonging my journey. #nogps #moremiles #maps #directions Although the gear list says a simple bike computer will suffice, I would recommend using GPS, especially if you have #ms. Simply because of the below: #cognition - I found it very difficult to navigate as I would instantly forget what I needed to do #msbrain Sometimes things just get lost in your short term memory and I had to constantly check where I was going next #coordination - pulling out the map from the back of my jersey and reading it on the go was almost impossible due to #balance and coordination issues. This meant I had to find suitable places to stop, again adding time to my journey. Also, I quite often lost the paper maps and on rainy days they got too wet to read or disintegrated. Another difficulty was that the maps told you what to do at particular distances (for example at 30.9 miles turn left at the T-junction) some rest stops were not on route and if you got lost you had to add the additional mileage on to the distance. At one point, I was 1.8 miles out and had to add this to the directions. Although I'm a good mathematician it was frustrating at times and #cogfog often ruined this. I enjoyed reading the maps and discovering that I was on the right path! It was a mini adventure in itself. #navigation #biketheukforms #blackgirlwithms #lost #jogle #travelbybike #adventure #memory #thisisMS #mssymptoms #multiplesclerosis https://www.instagram.com/p/BmeEm_CjGqi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tysfj55k9w45

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A great welcome home. Thank-you @theselfishgiants . #biketheukforms #blackgirlwithms #congratulations #congrats #epicride #jogle #multiplesclerosis (at Bristol, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmdyLDWj4W-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=vx4fo42xk36u

[challengetamla]

Someone's managing to sleep on the train #longtrainjourney #train #humanpillow https://www.instagram.com/p/BmdkLpzDu2V/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=c31curq3ot1y

[challengetamla]

Day 13: To..Honiton Why didnt I post this? For me #ms means making choices and missing out quite often #fomo I have to prioritise what events/activities I do on a daily basis. Normally, when I'm working I have the energy to do one thing in the evening (#study, #exercise, #socialise, #food). I tend to batch cook so that preparing food is not the activity. On this trip, I've prioritised getting through the cycle which has meant I haven't socialised and built as strong relationships with the others that I would have wished. (I was slower than other cyclists so I mostly rode on my own). MS can make #friendships difficult. Today I missed out on meeting up with the #mssocietygroup and the #biketheukforms #alumni BUT I did get to spend time cycling with my #sister @theselfishgiants and @observed Our meet-up didn't go to plan which prolonged my day.(they were over an hour late to meet me, Tara and Liz were tag teaming -one would drive whilst the other cycle and my sister got lost in the car.) Tara ended up with the hills and the rain and Liz the flat! #msfatigue #multiplesclerosis #lost #rain #socialise #relationships #blackgirlwithms #biketheukforms #travelonbike #jogle #priorities #thisisMS #livingwithms #mslife #msawareness https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmc4iBujOJ8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16lofd2agpkvb

[challengetamla]

Not Day..16 😥, back to normal life, Tues 15th July. Things that have been reinforced on this journey. I am #strong I am #independent and I am #determined Multiple sclerosis is not the end, it means #sacrifices BUT I still will achieve. In the words of @nadiyajhussain from the #bakeoff I CAN AND I WILL I would like to say a massive Thank-you to everyone who supported me with messages, comments and donations. 😉I would also like to Thank @imaginedragons for making me sign up for #biketheukforms (on top of the world was on the video from last year) @sugababes for getting me through the rainy days, @beverleyknight for making me recognise I'm Gold #songreferences #multiplesclerosis #imgold #ican #iwill #teamwork #support #bikelife #champagne #filtersforblackpeople https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmcuy-xDeFF/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=n7ehxty413r5

[challengetamla]

Day 15: Last Day! 63 miles to LANDS END!!!!!! #Bitter-sweet. How did I manage to get here? Today probably summed up the trip, highs and lows. This morning I had to deal with the feeling of #guilt . We had a #biketheukforms meeting the night before and as I was tired, I took things the wrong way. "It would be nice to cross the finish line together" became "you all need to wait for @tammoa" and I felt immensely guilty. The last thing I ever want to do is hold people back from achieving their goals. I felt like I was. GUILT is something I often experience with #multiplesclerosis like I'm not doing my share. It's something I need to work on. I am doing my best. The most I can and that is good enough. As I was tired from the day before map reading became increasingly difficult and although I reached Truro before midday, I didn't reach the rest stop until the last few people were about to leave . @nrforman was napping. Everyone was kind and supportive but I was feeling pretty emotional and thus not talkative. When everyone left, I ate my #brie&cranberry #toastie, had a bit of a cry and pulled myself together. The next 20 miles went pretty smoothly. #mountmichael was beautiful but I didn't really get time to experience it or the seaside views as I was trying to get to the end before the sign closed. I got lost and 13miles turned into 18, which meant I missed the deadline. Around 1 mile before #LandsEnd my fellow riders were waiting and we rode to the end together. #jogle #msbrain #lost #travelbybike #travelonbike #goodenough #cry #montmichel #finished https://www.instagram.com/p/BmcqoD2jyTS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1k2v9kqdsq2iu

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Day 14: PART 2- The Datmoor animals helped me finish #Dartmoor (the sheep's bleats were cheers and the #ponies #sympathized with me and the #cows told me to be #stubborn and keep going) The impact from the heat didn't really wear off until half four and my #mental #resilience didn't really return until an hour later. Rest stop 3 was in #Tavistock at 50 miles. The local #mssocietygroup were meeting us there at 1pm. I didn't get there until closer to 5pm but they kindly left me a #pasty and some fruit (I hadn't eaten an #orange in the last two weeks) The rain started to pour again which made the fun of going downhill disappear. By rest stop 4 at..stupid o'clock, after 7. I was #drenched, so I put on a fresh jersey and socks then #pedalled on. Let's just say it got dark and I was in Lostwithiel after 9pm. The majority of the last step was following the A390 but by the time I got to Lostwithiel it was pitch black and I was being blinded by car lights, so I decided to go through the town as it had #streetlights I think the route leaders had come to look for me by this point. But made it back to camp! #JOGLE #biketheukforms #rainydays #downpour #bikelights #blackgirlwithms #multiplesclerosis #youcandoit

[challengetamla]

Day..14: PART 1 Today made me realise how lucky I have been with the weather and my #MS on this trip. It was meant to be the hardest day and it was, but not because of the #rain or the #hills of #devon and #cornwall but because I got too hot. This summer (in #britain ) we have been having a heatwave and training became incredibly difficult because #heat saps my energy. Today, as I was expecting rain, I put on overshoes and a rain jacket. This was my biggest #fauxpas . Just before Dartmoor I started to realise my feet were hot. I thought I'd carry on nonetheless. Rolling my waterproof's sleeves up and down and unzipping the front were not helping to regulate temperature and eventually I overheated. That's fine you say, "take off some clothes and you'll be good to go" I did but it was too late. I was fatigued, my energy gone, my balance and coordination poor. I attempted to cool myself at the side of the road #roadsidestrip. This didn't suffice. Normally at #home my go to method is to strip (get naked) maybe take some aspirin and lie in bed until my whole body is an even temperature. This was not appropriate. I chose to preservere to the rest stop 2 at the top of #Dartmoor (10 or so miles away)- not thinking straight. (I should have cooled down in one of the earlier villages #moretonhampstead ) The ascent took ages. When restarting on hills I fell off my bike several times, due to my poor #balance and #coordination and not having the energy to push off properly. I began to get #emotionally overwhelmed and upset. The hills were not actually that bad, I knew I could do them but my body wasn't playing ball. I eventually got to the top - feeling distressed for the last 2 as according to my #bikecomputer the 36 miles rest stop was at 38. By the time I got to the pub everyone (except the route leader!) had left. I still needed a break so ordered some food - #porkburger removed my shoes and changed into a tank jersey. #toohot #multiplesclerosis #biketheukforms #msandheatdontmix #msheat #msawareness #blackgirlwithms #Dartmoor #heat #InvisibleDisability #invisibleillness #listentoyourbody